Concetto Spaziale (Teatrino)

Lucio Fontana, born in Argentina as the son of a sculptor, became an influential artist active in Milan, Italy. Initially influenced by academic traditions, he began his career creating figurative sculptures. However, he soon embraced abstraction, aligning himself with the avant-garde art movements of the 1930s. Through his extensive experimentation with abstract art, Fontana developed a unique aesthetic known as Concetto Spaziale (Spatial Concept) and became the founder of Spatialism. This movement aimed to break away from traditional artistic aesthetics and expand the boundaries of time and space in art.

Concetto Spaziale (Teatrino) is part of a late series in which Fontana continued to evolve his spatial concepts. These works are characterized by black frames and buchi (holes). In this series, Fontana explored Spatialism in a new way, which he defined as “realistic spatialism.” The punctured canvases, three-dimensional frames, geometric shapes, and interplay of light and shadow create a sense of depth, evoking a perspective reminiscent of a theater stage. By broadening the boundaries of art, Fontana sought to immerse viewers in a profound spatial experience.